Guide to African American Homeschool Associations

Many parents are choosing homeschooling as an option when the traditional public school system comes up lacking. Minorities make up 15 percent of homeschooled children, and resources are abundant for homeschooling, regardless of race, religion. For guidance, there are few national organizations dedicated to providing support for minority families looking to provide an education based on their heritage. However, there are often local groups in larger metropolitan areas that can help. Parents can also look to national organizations dedicated to their heritage for ideas in the home classroom. Homeschool co-ops may also exist in the local area.

For instance, Indigo Nation Homeschooler’s Association provides support for families using an afro-centric approach to homeschooling, giving parents an avenue for teaching the culture, language, and history of African-Americans. This group is located in Chicago, Illinois.

A national resource, such as the National Black Home Educators, founded in July 2000 by Eric and Joyce Burges, provides guidance for families wrestling with the decision to homeschool, offers curriculum support, co-op information, book clubs, newsletters, and a resource list of materials that inspire and support an afro-centric approach to homeschooling. This would be an excellent starting point to find the resources needed to be successful in the choice to provide a culture-based homeschool experience.

Families may want to draw on their own experiences, and contact local and national heritage societies that can provide ideas and materials for use in a homeschool environment. The Smithsonian offers insights and information of African American heritage and a calendar of events for February’s Black History Month. Their National Museum of African American History and Culture has links for educators and parents to use as guides in teaching this rich area of our country’s history.

Parents who chose to homeschool have the unique opportunity to teach their children about the culture of their ancestors, and the history of where they came from. While many education models are centered on the European experience in Western culture, there are resources available to parents to show a different side of the story.

African American families who choose to homeschool may also face socio-economic pressures that support groups can give guidance on. Forming or joining a co-op of other parents who homeschool can be a valuable resource. When first deciding to homeschool, a parent often can feel adrift; however, by reaching out, they will find other families who have made the same choice.